“ There are now a wide variety of iPad apps that you can use to organize your life and create an effective workflow. In this regard, I handpicked for you some really interesting apps that you should definitely consider to enhance your productivity. These apps provide a bunch of excellent features such as : easy ways to create to-do lists, scheduled notifications, reminders, notifications of upcoming tasks and events, and many more. Some of these apps are also integrated with Google and Google Apps accounts .”
Via John Evans, Donna Clark

“ This is the second article I posted here on SAMR iPad apps in less than two weeks. Why? I love SAMR and I find it a very good pedagogical framework that teachers can draw on to not only integrate technology into their instruction but also assess the efficiency of this technology. And since iPad is a leitmotif in today's learning, its alignment with SAMR model will definitely assist teachers in making the most of the educational potential of this versatile device. To this end , I am sharing with you this wonderful illustrative chart I stumbled upon on Apps in Education.”
Via John Evans

There are so many different challenges that technology integration in the classroom presents teachers. From budgets to hesitant parents to broken devices and totally re-vamping your lesson plans and constantly tweaking with lots of trial and error. It can be fun, hugely rewarding, and a big giant headache, too. But just because it can be …

This post links to a video by Paul Hamilton, Technology in Education. In this 4 minute video Hamilton asks 8 questions that we may want to share with our community, be it our staff, our parents, or the broader community, to begin a dialogue that is lacking in many school districts. Three of the questions he raises are below. Take the time to click through to the post to read the other 5, and if possible find the time to watch this video.

* What do we ant technology to do in schools?

* Are we asking the right questions about technology, learning, and schools?

* Is the way we are using technology now turning our students 'off' to the people and the world around them?

When a school leader refuses to remove internal policy and filtering barriers that get in the way of students and teachers actually using purchased technologies, that’s not poor technology leadership, that’s just poor leadership.
Via Nik Peachey

“ The promise of technology in the classroom has long been equal access to resources on the internet, but a digital divide still exists largely because of the other issues poverty raises in schools.”
Via Karen B Wehner

The researchers found that "personal 'ownership' of the device is seen as the single most important factor for successful use of this technology." They found ownership is fundamental for increasing students levels of motivation, interest, and engagement. Personal ownership promotes greater student autonomy and self-efficacy. Best of all, ownership encourages students to take more responsibility for their learning.
Via John Evans, Ilkka Olander

“Before I rush ahead with how I am going to roll out this device in my classrooms, I need to effectively incorporate it into my life and figure out how to use iPads to make me a better teacher.”
Via Cindy Rudy, John Evans

“Attendance is up, disturbances are down, and kids are actually taking care of their high-tech school supplies.”Apple: IPads In High-Poverty Maryland Classrooms Help Advance Students.In its blog “The Switch,” the Washington Post (11/18, Tsukayama) reports on a new promotional video from Apple, showcasing the use of iPads by every student and teacher at four high-poverty middle schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The video focuses on Buck Lodge Middle school, where students use video, presentations, and educational software daily; 400 Buck Lodge students are permitted to take their tablets home, with the school seeing few drawbacks, better attendance, and decreases in behavioral problems. Apple reports that 175% more students at Prince George’s schools are at “advanced” math levels compared to similar schools without iPads, while 35% more reached an “advanced” reading level.
Via Mel Riddile

"I am starting to see the light… and somewhat emerging from the fog of iPad enrollment and technical logistics. After a full weekend of ACL (yes, the TechChef does find time to enjoy in the Austin music scene), I spent half a day with Randolph ISD sharing some timely tips for managing iPads in the classroom. As I am never one to hoard resources and I imagine that there our other teachers and districts that might benefit from some tried and true management techniques, I thought I would crank out a blog to share these with the greater edusphere."
Via John Evans, Mel Riddile

iOS 8 has finally arrived! But, be forewarned, all of your favorite classroom apps might not be compatible just yet! Watch out for more new app updates with iOS 8 compatibility in the next few weeks and beyond.
Via Guido Knaus, Juergen Wagner

"The Internet is a wonderful invention that has brought the world to our doorsteps. The same technology has also opened new avenues of criminal intent and activity. By paying attention and practicing common sense, we can protect ourselves, while still enjoying the wonders of the web."

The 4 Stages of Technology Integration: Supporting Student Growth. New methods of using technology in the classroom can be adopted, but they don’t necessarily need be. Instead, technological integration in the classroom takes place along a sliding scale, a spectrum of integration. That spectrum is summarized with the letters SAMR, which stands for Substitution, Augmentation,Modification, and Redefinition. These represent four different degrees of technological integration into learning, from slightly supplementing instruction to completely redefining what it means to teach.
Via Brian H. Burnett

“ If you download apps, movies, and games on your iPhone or iPad, you're already familiar with what an iTunes account is and how it works. However, that doesn't always mean that the email or account you use for mail and iCloud is the same account you use for purchases. If you ever need to change what iTunes account is linked to your iPhone or iPad, you can do so in just a few steps....”
Via John Evans, Donna Clark

“ For many organizations who want to dive into mobile learning, it’s not just about the desire to create and deliver mLearning for employees –it’s about how to do it and how to do it well.”
Via Eduware, Inc.

"The paperless classroom is a compelling concept for what it symbolizes as much as anything else. While it sounds sleek and futuristic and easy to organize and environmentally friendly, the reality is that paperless classrooms aren’t that simple. The “environmentally-friendly” part, for example, is wildly subjective: the costs of manufacturing–and eventually recycling and disposing of–tablets versus the loss of “renewable” trees and the subsequent waste that is environmentally-friendly."
Via John Evans, Giselle Pempedjian

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